Eickason stiwell



(No Model.)

R. STILWELL.

ELECTRIC MATTRESS SPREAD.

No. 285,854. Patented Oct. 2, 1883.

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. Altormey Urcrrse ms ATENT FFCEQ RIcKAsoN srniwntt, on NEW YORK, n. v, Assroxon, BY mane-i1 AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BRADFORD wiLLARn AND nMnLiNn c. sriL- \VELL, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

EL'ECTRIC MATTRESS-SPREAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 285,854, dated October 2, 18 3.

Application filed March 15, 1883. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RioxAsoN STILwELL,

of the city, county, and State of New S'ork,

have invented certain Improvements in Elec- 5 trio lllattressSpreads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed to serve a purpose analogous to that of the electric or galvanic beds or couches, in which a mattress is IO so constructed and arranged that a continuous electrical current transmited through the same,

i or a portion of the same, influences more or less, either by electric currents diverted to the body of the person resting upon the bed or couch, or by inductive electricity, the physical nervous condition oi such person, thereby exerting a gradual but effective curative or healing efi'ect.

The object of my said invention is to provide a cheap eil'icient spread, which may be readily applied on any ordinary mattress and have a more curative eii'ect than the most expensive galvanic beds or mattresses heretofore in use; and it comprises a novel combination of parts, whereby said object is effectually secured.

Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a vertical transverse sectional view, of a spread constructed according to my said invention. Fig.

3 is a detail view, illustrating certain parts of an apparatus constructed according to my said invention. I

The spread is composed, primarily, of elongated parallel rolls or sections, which may vary in diai'neter according to the thickness desired in the spread as, for example, from one-quarter of an inch to one inch; but these proportions may be widely departed from when desired. The width and length of the spread 40 will of course be determined by the length of the rolls or sections and the number thereof placed side by-side, as herein explained. These sections are comp osed of cotton or of any other suitable material-as, for example, of hair placed within longitudinal sacks or cases of any appropriate textile material. These cushions or sections A, being made of the requisite length and diameter are placed side by side, and are then laced together by a pair of wires,

(0b, which .are passed around and between the sections alternately upon opposite sides thereof to unite the same, as more fully represented in Fig. 2. The position of the wires in thus binding the sections together is indicated in Fig. 3, which illustrates the position of the wires without representing the cushions or sections. This line of lacing constituted by the duplicate wires and binding the cushions or sections together is extended to and fro across the sections, as shown in Fig. 1., the two wires being of course continuous. These connecting scams or lines of the binding being completed, the two adjacent wires at each end thereof are joined, as represented at a I), and one or both of the joined wires are extended through the respective poles of a galvanic battery. Thus, for example, one extremity, c, of the one wire is extended to the pole of a suitable galvanic battery, and the other, (7, to the positive pole of a suitable galvanic battery or other appropiate source of electricity, so that when the battery or its equivalent is in operation the circuit completed through the wires a b traverses to and fro across the spread, thereby bringing the current of electricity in due relation with the occupant of the spread or of the bed of which said spread forms a part, thereby insuring to said person the curative action or eil'ect incident to the proximity of the electric current, as aforesaid.

Inasmuch as the attachment of the wires to the poles of a galvanic battery is a matter within the ordinary workshop-skill of a mechanic of ordinary experience, and inasmuch as the construction of such batteries, and of equiv- 8 5 alent sources of electricity, is a matter well known, the same need not be here specifically described. It will be observed that the apparatus, constructed as hereinbcforedescribed, will be relatively thin and flat, flexible in all directions, light and capable of being easily rolled up for storage or transportation, and that it maybe laid upon the top or upper sur face of an ordinary bed or mattress, and either above or below the usual sheet or covering of such bed or mattress, enabling a galvanic current to be brought in due relation with the occupant.

sectionsunitedbythetransversebinding-Wires, 1o cumferential contour and size of the apparatus to servethe double purpose of connecting the constructed as aforesaid the same may be used said cushions or sections, and of providing a for seats of chairs, or spreadspure and simple circuit for a suitable battery, substantially as 5 as, for example, to be thrown over the backs, and for the purpose herein set forth.

It is to be observed that by varying the cirseats, arms, &c., of invalid-chairs. RIGKASON STILWELL.

What I claim as my invention is' \Vitnesses:

As a new article of manufacture, the elec- I EDWARD A. HOLLEY, tric spread composed of parallel cushions or RUDoLF H. BJELLMAN, 

